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Legislation requiring the reporting of Greyhound racing injuries unanimously cleared a Senate Committee in the State Capitol today, and supporters make no bones about their real objective, which is to prohibit the sport all together.

74 Greyhounds died in track related accidents during the first year of reporting. More have died since. Now lawmakers want every injury reported,

“Everyone loses when dogs race” began bill sponsor Eleanor Sobel as she spoke to the Regulated Industries Committee. She made no bones bones about her real objective.  “So let’s make this year the one that we make a step toward ending this archaic and barbaric practice.”

The reporting legislation is being supported by dog breeders and owners…but they want to go further: They want to require tracks to fix the things causing injuries. Those include bad surfaces, exposed high voltage lines running the lure around the track, and making the arm holding the lure flexible. Jack Cory, representing the FL Greyhound Association, says the changes can make an immediate difference. “We can stop deaths and injuries now. We could cut down by 50% the animal deaths immediately.” says Cory.

Grey 2 K USA, which advocates for the end of dog racing didn’t speak at the hearing, but executive Director Carey Thiel had plenty to say afterward. “I don’t believe greyhound injury reporting will end Greyhound racing, but it will directly help a large number of dogs.”

With 12 active tracks, Florida licenses more Greyhound racing  than any other state.

Breeders say Greyhound racing creates 3 thousand jobs.

And breeders, through Cory, are pointed about what they call the real objective of the reporting legislation. “Their ultimate goal is to do away with live Greyhound racing and become mini casinos.”

The bill cleared it’s first hurdle unanimously.

The legislation has been filed for the last eight years. Last year it cleared the State Senate but was never voted upon in the House.

Atwater calls allegations “Serious”

Florida CFO Jeff Atwater has called for the Governor to reopen the decision to fire former FDLE Director Gerald Bailey. Reports have surfaced saying Bailey was fired for refusing to allow executive branch staffers to meddle in police investigations and rebuking efforts by the Scott Campaign. Atwater wouldn’t use the word mislead when asked but isn’t happy with how the firing was handled. “I thought there had been conversations that he wanted to step down, or was choosing to step down,and I think to that extent, it creates again, the need to have a very open process, selection process” says Atwater.

Atwater calls the allegations of meddling “serious”.

The shakeup at the top of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is prompting more questions about why the states top police official was replaced. As Matt Galka tells us, lawmakers are looking for answers.

Gerald Bailey is no longer the Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, that is clear.  The reasons why the longtime law enforcement veteran was forced out by Governor Rick Scott and his administration are where things get tricky.

“I want to thank commissioner Bailey for his service. He resigned,” said Governor Rick Scott on January 13th.

Scott’s office later backed off that quote.  Reports and independent sources say Bailey wouldn’t play ball with the Governor’s requests to politicize his FDLE office – including falsely naming a person in a criminal case.   Governor Scott’s office denied the allegations.

Democratic leaders say they’re concerned and want to get to the bottom of it.

“To take a man who has given his life as a real public servant in law enforcement in this state, and to remove him…smacks of shenanigans that we don’t know anything about,” said Sen. Arthenia Joyner, the Senate Democratic Leader.

Sen. Joyner and Rep. Mark Pafford, the Democratic Leader on the House side, said that a resolution should start with the cabinet, but there are other paths they could take.

The three member cabinet says they were told Bailey resigned.  Joyner says if they were misled, it could be a criminal offense.

“It’s called the misuse of a public position, and I think that it throws it to the ethics commission to investigate,” said Sen. Joyner.

The Democrats say even though their party is the one making noise – most of the legislature has expressed concern.

“I don’t think this is a Democratic or Republican issue, this is an issue that effects every Floridian,” said Rep. Pafford.

The House and Senate leaders called for the cabinet to have a meeting with Governor Scott to come clean.

Lawmakers say what’s even more troubling is that the FDLE is going through turmoil just as the department is tasked with investigating Florida’s prison systems after rampant reports of inmate deaths, abuse, and corruption.

The newly appointed Secretary of Corrections in Florida faces questions of confidence from State lawmakers. Inmate deaths are up, as are complaints of abuse by officers. As a result, top legislators are questioning the agency’s ability to police itself.

Inmate deaths hit an all time high when 346 died in prison last year. Almost half were medical, but 175 deaths remain unresolved.

Reports of abuse forced the Former Secretary out. On January 5th Julie Jones became the first female to lead the agency…she spent the morning making the rounds of Senate offices trying to calm fears and restore confidence in the agency’s ability to clean its own house.

“We are going to get this agency fixed. We are going to get our people in a good place where this is a job they can be respected for doing” says Secretary Jones.

The trouble runs deep. We spoke with a correctional officer with the promise of anonymity. He told us corruption reaches the highest levels at individual prisons.

“Fabricating a lot of information to central office that’s not true  . Ah, If they even think one of us is trying to talk to an outside source or to talk to anyone, you are a threat to them” says the Corrections veteran.

We asked Jones about his treatment at the hands of superiors. “That is not acceptable, but the only way I can fix that is to strengthen all levels of supervision, establish some discipline, and make sure everyone is accountable” says the Secretary.

For more than a hundred years, the leadership here has been characterized as a good old boy system. one where you had to go along to get along.

Senators in charge of Corrections legislation say past must be just that.

Senate Corrections Chair Greg Evers says he has confidence in the new Secretary Jones…but he says he little confidence in many of the wardens and managers in the field.

50 years ago, the voting rights act was passed and was meant to end racial discrimination in voting. As Matt Galka tells us, many believe the work of the civil rights movement isn’t finished.

It was hopeful, and there was a call to action for the hundreds marching to Florida’s Capitol on Monday. Earlene Preston says the activism shouldn’t be reserved for just Martin Luther King Jr day, and shouldn’t be just about one race.

“All of us are just as one, and when one hurt the other one hurt, it should not be a black or white doing this or doing that,” she said.

Many at the march reflected on the new movie “Selma,” which depicts the bloody marches from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery Alabama in the name of equal voting rights.  State Representative Alan Williams says that fight continues today.

“Folks had to cross the Edmund Pettus bridge, there are a lot of folks, even to this day, in their own mind that haven’t crossed that bridge, whether it’s through racial inequality, social inequality, or are communities being so different,” said Williams (D-Tallahassee).

Many said it was important for the event to be held in the shadow of the capitol because that’s where the continuing fight for equality would be decided. Voting registration booths were set up around the event.  Dale Landry with the NAACP said lawmakers need to know people still care about what’s going on in there. “We didn’t get any change until you had all of the people come together, and all stand together united as Dr. King said. All good people of good will,” said Landry. Tommy Mitchell, who saw Dr. King speak, said the solutions to today’s problems aren’t black and white.

“We’re not going to be the country that we’re supposed to be until we all work together,” he said.

And for the hundreds of people at the Capitol and millions across the country and world, that dream will never die.

When state lawmakers return to the Capitol next week, one of the first items on the agenda is whether guns should be allowed on college campuses. The issue is gaining traction since the pre Thanksgiving shootings on the FSU campus.

“the bullet deflected off the…

Nathan Scott was one of three people shot at the FSU library. He describes himself as a libertarian when it comes to guns on campus. “I do think there are maybe students who are trained to be law enforcement officers who I would feel very safe if they have guns.”

On Tuesday, lawmakers will hear House Bill 4005. It would allow concealed carry permit holders to carry on college campuses. Dane Eagle is one of the co-sponsors. “If we’re restricting law abiding citizens from holding a gun to protect themselves, than the only people who are going to have guns on campuses are those who are not abiding by the law.”

Senate sponsor Greg Evers says now is the time. “If this had been in force than the person who actually committed the crime on FSU, then there would have been a lot less shots fired.”

Q:” You think?

“Yes I do.”

John Thrasher, FSU’s new President supported guns on campuses when he was a State Senator. He hasn’t said publicly how he feels about it now that he’s running a university.

University police across Florida oppose students carrying weapons concealed or otherwise. Student reaction is mixed.

Kadale Lubin of Ft. Lauderdale told was asked: ”these would be people who presumably would be law abiding citizens.” Her answer:  :”Law abiding citizens carry guns? I mean, we see how that has played out over the past couple months, so, I would not feel safer. No.”

Austin Grant is a science major. We asked him if he would feel safer with guns on campus. He says ”I wouldn’t have a problem with it.”

And both sides are likely to give lawmakers an earful next week.

As written, HB 4005 would allow permit holders to carry openly in public but  they would have to conceal their weapons on college campuses.

The Department of Health today published a new version of it’s rule to implement the growing and sale of low THC marijuana. The rule was supposed to be in place January first, and lawmakers, including Sponsor Rob Bradley of Orange Park says his patience is wearing thin. “It’s been too long. I’m disappointed that Charlotte’s Web isn’t available at this point in time for the suffering families. But doctor Armstrong has assured me, and I believe him, that they are moving forward as quickly as possible.”

The proposed rule published today selects five growers and vendors based on quality assurances, not a lottery as previously proposed. A judge threw out the lottery idea, saying vendors shouldn’t get licenses because they were lucky.

A 27 member committee appointed by Florida’s  Supreme Court Chief Justice to solve a lack of legal aid for the poor held it’s first meeting today. Only one in four low income residents is getting any help with their legal issues. James Kowalski runs legal aid in the Jacksonville area. He says the problem is getting worse. It’s an economic question of providing basic services that our citizens need, and it will get worse if we don’t solve it. So, it’s not just money though. It’s being effective at resources.”

Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga wants a broad solution. “I’m going to put these 27 very smart people in a room and we’re going to beat this around until we come up with solutions. My view is that this is a societal problem that needs to be resolved by society in general. It can’t be just the legislature writing a check.”

Funding for legal aid has plummeted in recent years because it was funded by interest earned on money lawyers hold for other people. As interest rates fell, so did the funds available. The committee also has representatives from some of Florida’s largest companies, including Publix and Disneyworld.

About a dozen people gathered today in the rotunda of the State Capitol to pray for the victims of and family of Johnny Shane Kormendy who was executed last night. Kormondy was the ring leader of a home invasion gone wrong. Luthern Pastor Marta Messick lead the ceremony, saying that a growing number of people are opposing executions.

“We are hopeful and persistent. I think there is a ground swell, an increasing groundswell of awareness of the wrongness of this law. , and it’;s execution so to speak in the state. We’re also concerned about the forgotten victims of the death penalty which are those who are the family members of the person put to death by the state.”

Yesterday’s execution saw more than 20 protests or prayer vigils from one end of the state to the other. Far more than recent executions in Florida.

Johnny Shane Kormondy is set to be executed tonight at 6pm (Eastern). His execution will be Rick Scott’s 21st, tying a record for the number of executions under one Governor in modern times. Scott accomplished the feat in just over four years while it took Jeb Bush twice that long.

Gary McAdams was shot point blank in the back of the head in July 1993 during a home invasion while his wife was was being raped. We are identifying Cecilia McAdams only because she speaks publicly about the ordeal. Earlier this year she met with Governor Rick Scott. In a Face book post afterwards, she wrote “Hopefully one day in the not too distant future we can all get together to celebrate justice being served.”

Scott would not comment specifically on the meeting or Johnny Kormondy’s death warrant. “I review all the cases, they’ve all gone through their appeals and the clemency process” said Scott when asked.

While no one questions Johnny Kormondy’s guilt, some question whether justice is being served. Kormondy was sentenced to death on an 8-4 jury recommendation while two co defendants got life.

In 2005, Florida’s Supreme Court recommended lawmakers require unanimous jury recommendations in death cases, but Florida is the only state which allows a simple majority.

Mark Schlakman of the FSU Center for Human Rights says the change would add a different dynamic in the jury’s deliberations.  “What a unanimous jury requirement would do is to basically facilitate more robust deliberations.”

Prosecutors fear there would be fewer death sentences if a unanimous verdicts were required. But Ingrid Delgado of the Florida Catholic Conference says that fear is misplaced. “The truth is that Texas executes more and sentences more than the state of Florida and they require unanimity.”

Kormondy‘s execution ties a record of 21 for a single governor in modern times.

Some legislators fear making the change to a unanimous verdict would open avenues for legal challenges for those already sentenced to death.

The calling for police accountability has led to a national push for body cameras on cops. As Matt Galka tells us, two bills have been proposed in the state legislature, but they could face opposition.

Florida State University’s police department has about 13 body cameras at their disposal. And they want more.

“We can go back and look at what went on or help us with our cases, it’s been a very positive thing for us,” said Maj. Jim Russell

FSU got the cameras from a contest a few years ago before the push for police accountability was brought by protests around the country. The only thing holding them up is money.

FSU PD says the best thing about the cameras is that it shows an officers view, and eliminates questions surrounding a case.

Two bills would put cameras on all cops in Florida. But Florida House Criminal Justice Subcommittee member Dennis Baxley says he doesn’t want people blaming cops and overlooking other crime.

“The mantra we’ve painted is that there’s this big problem with law enforcement mistreating people. We have an epidemic of death among young males, African American males. But 92% of those deaths are not somebody attacking them, they’re black on black crime,” said Rep. Baxley (R-Ocala).

Attorney Ben Crump, whose clients in Ferguson, Missouri are pushing for the cameras, says that if officers aren’t doing anything wrong, it wouldn’t be a problem.

“I think it would deter all crimes, people act differently when they know they’re being videoed, on both sides,” said Crump.

The Florida Senate is planning on holding a workshop for the proposed bill. Lawmakers will most likely hold off on the legislation this year and allow the departments who are currently using the cameras to give them feedback in order to craft something for next year.

Florida’s Department of Children and Families says there will be no quick fix in ensuring child safety. As Matt Galka tells us, the fallout from the deaths of a child and teenager in the past week is prompting change.

Florida’s Governor was troubled by two tragic incidents involving a child and teenager in the past week.

“You just can’t imagine these things happening. I have grandchildren. The first thing you think about is the family. My prayers go out to them,” said Governor Rick Scott.

The two incidents: one in ColumbiaCounty where a 16 year old boy was allegedly shot and killed by his younger sisters, and the other in St. Petersburg where a father was seen throwing his 5 year old daughter off a bridge to her death, has called into question the Department of Children and Families oversight of both family situations.

“The Secretary Mike Carroll reviews each situation. We’re sending, the young girl that was thrown off the bridge, he has a rapid response team. He’s already made some changes, but he’ll continue to look at every situation and make any additional changes he needs to make,” said Scott.

The DCF Secretary said preventing future tragedies wouldn’t be a quick process.

In both cases, there were red flags.  Reports of sexual abuse and neglect from Columbia County; possible mental illness in St. Petersburg.  Secretary Mike Carroll has already changed protocol. The department will need to meet with a parent and victim within four hours of a hotline call dealing with a mental health episode.

“I don’t want anybody to think that some of the fixes we make in the short term is a magic bullet and is going to make the system forward. We changed the hotline so that we’ll handle a call differently, trigger a different type of response,” said Carroll.

He vowed that his department would do a better job of identifying mental health and substance abuse.

“We have got to do a better job within the system of being able to identify that, being able to engage those folks and understanding the impact that has with child safety,” he said.

The agency is currently investigating both situations to see if they could have handled things differently. The reports in both incidents should be ready in about a month.

How do you stop a person who served their prison time from going right back in? As Matt Galka tells us, justice advocates will tackle that question this week, but some say they’re not addressing an issue that could be a big help.

More than 100,000 inmates call Florida prisons home. A coalition of lawmakers and think tanks will try to figure out ways to make sure their stay doesn’t become routine.

“Our packed agenda is focused on rethinking the way we deal with non-violent criminal offenders in the state of Florida,” said Barney Bishop with the Smart Justice Alliance.

The Smart Justice Alliance’s annual summit will try to cut into recidivism.  More than 14,000 prisoners a year are repeat offenders. Senate Criminal Justice committee chairman Greg Evers says it starts with education.

“Most of the inmates that we have have an average of a 6^th grade education. How can you expect them to get a job, become a productive part of society, if we don’t do it smartly,” said Evers (R-Pensacola).

Civil rights advocates say the summit is missing an opportunity.

Ex-offenders show up at the Capitol four times a year trying to get their voting rights back after a 5 year waiting period. Civil Rights lawyer Mark Schlakman says restoring rights has helped keep former inmates from going back in.

“Employment opportunities and education opportunities are extremely important, but, so too are the restoration of civil rights,” he said.

An average of about 1 in 3 inmates released end up going back, but the number drops to 1 in 9 if civil rights are restored.  Those numbers have prompted petitions for a ballot initiative for automatic restoration of civil rights for the 2016 election.

The Smart Justice Alliance says they’ll wait for that to formulate before addressing it.

Florida spends more than $2 billion dollars housing inmates. The Smart Justice Alliance hopes that if policies can drive inmate population down, spending would go down as well.

You probably voted for it, and now lawmakers have to figure out how to spend guaranteed environmental protection money. As Matt Galka tells us, they’re looking for public input from a surging population.

It wasn’t close when voters passed Amendment 1. 75 percent of Floridians said they wanted the state to devote money to environmental preservation. Now how exactly do we do it?

“I think that the public should have an input because the public overwhelmingly supported the Amendment 1 issue,” said Sen. Greg Evers (R-Pensacola).

A Senate environmental panel introduced a website devoted to public input this week.  There’s around $700 million dollars to spend this year alone because the amendment is tied to a property tax in the state.

Environmental groups like the Florida Audubon say that the growing population means the money is more important now than ever.

With the Governor sending a strong message and inviting more people to come to the country’s now third most populous state, Julie Wraithmell with the Florida Audubon says the guaranteed protection money is key.

“If we talk about attracting the best and the brightest, in order to be competitive for those workers in Florida, they need to have a good quality of life, they need to be able to know their kids will be able to fish and swim safely in Florida waters,” she said.

If you want to make your voice heard on Amendment One, go to the Florida Senate’s website at www.flsenate.gov/media/topics/wlc

Lawmakers are making it clear early on in this year: they want to reign in utility companies in the state. As Matt Galka tells us, a new bill is putting up a fight against powerful corporations.

Utility companies driving up rates and getting most of what they want from the state’s Public Service Commission has rubbed lawmakers the wrong way.

“I think the worst situation that has been allowed to develop is the coziness between the investor owned utilities, and the public service commission,” said Sen. Jack Latvala (R-St. Petersburg).

A new bill looks to curb that coziness. Latvala’s proposal would require ethics training for commissioners on the PSC and put a hold on certain rate hikes.

Lawmakers touted the bill on the same day Jimmy Patronis – who was appointed from the Florida House by the Governor- was sworn in as PSC commissioner. He vows to be consumer friendly.

“I’m always sensitive to the environment of making sure that Mom and Dad who are having two kids at school and are working three jobs between them have the ability to make ends meet,” said Patronis.

Latvala says he should keep to that.

“I can tell you that I have told him eyeball to eyeball that I’m watching him,” said Sen. Latvala.

Clean energy advocates say the bill is a pretty good start to reigning in utility corporations. Susan Glickman with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy says utility companies are still getting whatever they want.

“The more they expend in capital expenditures the more they make, they’re like waiters in a restaurant they get a guaranteed tip,” said Glickman.

The bill would also mandate the Public Service Commission hold annual meetings in their customer’s service areas.

Utility companies regularly fuel candidates with hefty campaign contributions, something that the bill’s sponsors would consider outlawing or limiting.  A separate bill would prevent a legislator from taking a PSC job until two years after leaving office.